FLAG OF ETHIOPIA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Ethiopia is the national symbol of this ancient African people, currently constituted as a federal republic. The pavilion is made up of three horizontal stripes of the same size, colored green, yellow and red.

In the central part there is a circular blue emblem, which includes a yellow five-pointed star in the shape of a pentagram. Around it there are five straight lines that emulate rays of light.

Flag of Ethiopia. (Drawn by User: SKopp, via Wikimedia Commons).

The colors of the Ethiopian flag have been present to identify this country for centuries. In principle, flags of three small triangles of red, yellow and green were used.

It was at the end of the 19th century when the colors were imposed on a rectangular flag. Since then, the variations have corresponded to the shields and emblems that have accompanied the flag.

The colors of this ancient flag are Pan-African, and they have spread worldwide through the Rastafarian movement. The green color is identified with fertility, red to the deceased defending the country, and yellow to religious freedom. The star is the symbol of unity and the blue one, peace and democracy.

History of the flag

Ethiopia is one of the oldest peoples in Europe, which has maintained its civilization for centuries. As a historical symbol of unity and continuity, Ethiopia has kept its colors regardless of the multiple regime and political system changes that this East African nation has faced.

Ethiopian empire

The existence of the Ethiopian Empire, also known as Absinia, dates from the year 1270. Its formation was established after the overthrow of the Zagüe dynasty and the establishment of what is known as the Solomonic dynasty.

This happened because the new king, Jejuno Almak, declared himself heir to the Kingdom of Aksum, which according to legend has its direct origin in the biblical character of Solomon.

The Ethiopian Empire has been one of the longest-running states in the world. However, the creation of its flag was done many centuries after its founding.

For hundreds of years, the three identifying colors of the country were definitively established. These were represented by three triangular pennants. In descending order, they were colored red, yellow, and green.

Pennants of the Ethiopian Empire. (Orange Tuesday, from Wikimedia Commons).

First flag of Ethiopia

The first rectangular Ethiopian national flag came from the hand of Emperor Menilek II. This monarch, who unified the territory into a united nation with a defined central government and created the current capital, Addis Ababa, established the first flag in 1897.

This symbol imitated the same colors of the pennants, but in a rectangular flag. In the center of the yellow stripe, the initial of the monarch's name in the Amharic alphabet was added, colored in red.

Flag of the Ethiopian Empire (1897-1914). (Thommy, from Wikimedia Commons).

Color change

In 1914 there was a change in the order of the colors, which has been definitive until today. Red and green changed positions. The flag continued to be a tricolor of horizontal stripes, but in green-yellow-red colors. In addition, the monogram of Emperor Menilek II was removed.

Flag of the Ethiopian Empire (1914-1936). (Johannes Rössel, from Wikimedia Commons).

Italian occupation

Ethiopia was not immune to the dynamics prior to World War II. The Kingdom of Italy, led by the fascist movement of Benito Mussolini, maintained the colony of Eritrea, north of Ethiopia. In its expansionism, which sought to reinstate an Italian empire, Ethiopia was invaded in 1935 and annexed to Italy the following year.

Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed and exiled to London. The Italian fascist government occupied Ethiopia until 1941, when in the framework of the Second World War, Great Britain recovered the territory and returned it to the previously reigning monarchy. In addition, Ethiopia annexed the former Italian colony of Eritrea, starting a war of independence that lasted more than thirty years.

During the Italian occupation, the flag that was used was the tricolor of the Kingdom of Italy. In the center the royal weapons were located.

Flag of the Kingdom of Italy. (1861-1946). (Say F lanker, attraverso Wikimedia Commons).

Lion of Judea

Ethiopia, for much of the 20th century, had a distinctive symbol. It is the Lion of Judea, established in the central part of the national flag by Emperor Haile Selassie I.

The monarch was the most prominent Ethiopian figure of the entire 20th century, and also became the spiritual leader of the Rastafarian movement, which has made the Ethiopian flag with the Lion of Judea endure.

The origin of this figure is biblical and its establishment came definitively after the Second World War. It consisted of a crowned lion that carried a cross in its claws.

This indicated a relationship between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the people. Her choice would correspond to Judea being the tribe of Solomon, which according to legend, would be the origin of the royal family.

Flag of the Ethiopian Empire. (1897-1936) (1941-1974). (By Oren neu dag, from Wikimedia Commons).

End of the monarchy

1974 saw the most important political change in Ethiopia's history. After the famine and multiple social conflicts, the emperor was deposed and Ethiopian monarchical history brought its end.

A military government was immediately established, and one of the first changes was to remove the monarchical symbols from the flag. The Lion of Judea had his crown and spearhead removed. Then it became a Republican symbol.

Flag of Ethiopia (1974-1975). (By Thommy, from Wikimedia Commons).

Derg

A military dictatorship quickly prevailed in Ethiopia. This received the name of Derg, initials of Provisional Military Administrative Council. His government imposed a martial regime, which disappeared Emperor Haile Selassie. Quickly, the system began to shape close to the Soviet orbit.

This regime took up the flag that was used before the establishment of the Lion of Judea. They simply recovered the three-colored pavilion without any symbols in the central strip.

Flag of Ethiopia (1975-1987). (By Johannes Rössel, from Wikimedia Commons).

Also, as an alternative flag, the one that was incorporated into the Derg shield was used. This stood out for the presence of tools related to worker labor. Behind, a sun was imposed. This symbol was of very rare use.

Ethiopian flag with coat of arms (1975-1987). (By TRAJAN 117 This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape., From Wikimedia Commons).

Democratic People's Republic of Ethiopia

Ethiopia became a socialist state in 1987 when a new constitution was passed creating the Ethiopian People's Democratic Republic. The traditional symbols of communist countries, with shields that emulated a landscape and presided over by a star, also had a clear link in Ethiopia.

The tricolor flag of the country was maintained in the same way. The change resided in the shield, which acquired a communist orientation. Its more oval shape was accompanied by the traditional sun rays, a red star and work tools.

Flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Ethiopia. (1987-1991). (By TRAJAN 117 This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape., From Wikimedia Commons).

Transitional Government of Ethiopia

The communist bloc fell since the late 1980s. The Berlin Wall set the tone and since 1989, all the communist regimes in the world began to dissolve.

Ethiopia was no exception. Following a succession of coups and fighting between ruling groups, in 1991 the one-party system was ended and Eritrea was allowed to secede.

Given the end of communism in the country, the so-called Transitional Government of Ethiopia was formed. This new government began to recognize the singularities of each region and to form the bases to establish a new constitutional order.

Its flag was the same tricolor that Ethiopia has had for almost the entire 20th century. However, for the first time, the dimensions changed, making this flag a longer flag.

Flag of Ethiopia (1991-1996). (By Ultratomio, from Wikimedia Commons).

In addition to the simple tricolor, a version with the transitional shield was also incorporated in 1992. This symbol was a green circle accompanied by spikes and gears. In its internal part symbols of peace and justice were incorporated, such as a dove and a scale.

Ethiopian flag with coat of arms (1992-1996). (Thommy, from Wikimedia Commons).

Federal Republic of Ethiopia

In 1995, in Ethiopia, a new constitution was passed, creating the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. As a consequence, the first multi-party elections of Ethiopian democracy were held. Quickly, a new symbol came to distinguish the flag of the new multiparty democratic federation.

It was a blue emblem on which a pentagram-shaped five-pointed star was imposed. This yellow star, in turn, incorporated five solar rays in its environment. The first version of the flag, effective between February and October 1996, had a cyan colored circle.

Flag of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. (nineteen ninety six). (Drawn by SKopp, simplified by Fibonacci, via Wikimedia Commons).

The central emblem of the flag underwent a small change that same year, in which its size was slightly enlarged. The rest of the characteristics were kept.

Flag of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. (1996-2009). (Drawn by SKopp, simplified by Fibonacci, via Wikimedia Commons).

The last change of the pavilion occurred in 2009. The blue disc grew and its color darkened, opting for a navy blue and leaving behind cyan. This flag is still valid.

Meaning of the flag

The colors of the Ethiopian flag are historical. Its meaning has an ancient origin, related to the proper identification of a monarchical system and without much relationship with the country. However, as a result of so many political changes in the country, new meanings of their own have been created.

Currently it is understood that the color green is the representative of the fertility of the Ethiopian lands, as well as its wealth. Recently it has also been related to the hope of the people.

Instead, red is related to the sacrifice of all those who shed their blood for Ethiopia. Finally, yellow is the identifier of religious freedom, liberty and peace.

However, the 1996 emblem is the symbol with the most symbolism of the flag. The star represents the bright future of Ethiopia. Its parts, divided into five equal parts, are identified with the equality among Ethiopians without distinction of their ethnicity, religion or belonging to a social group. The sun's rays are identified with prosperity. The blue color also represents peace and democracy.

References

1. Chojnacki, S. (1963). Some Notes on the History of the Ethiopian National Flag. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 1 (2), 49-63. Recovered from jstor.org.
2. Chojnacki, S. (1980). Third Note on the History of the Ethiopian National Flag: the Discovery of its First Exemplar and the New Documents on the Early Attempts by Emperor Menilek to Introduce the Flag. Rassegna di studi ethiopici, 28, 23-40. Recovered from jstor.org.
3. Entralgo, A. (1979). Africa: Society. Editorial of Social Sciences: La Habana, Cuba.
4. Simbiro, E. (November 25, 2009). Waving the Ethiopian flag: Its beauty and contradictions. Pambazuka News. Recovered from pambazuka.org.
5. Smith, W. (2016). Flag of Ethiopia. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.